Congress And AAP Make Strong Queer Pitch, Promise Decriminalisation Of Homosexuality In Manifesto

Major political parties have made a strong pitch for gender and sexuality justice in their manifestos before the polls. The Aam Aadmi Party has made the strongest overture towards the queer population with an outreach meet in Delhi last week and several others planned in other cities. The party also plans to talk about its support towards the decriminalization of consensual homosexuality among adults and the Delhi High Court verdict of 2009.

Party leaders Atishi Marlena and noted director Onir listened to several suggestions of the queer audience at the Delhi meet and promised to incorporate the same in the manifesto to be released later this week. (Read: Why Onir joined AAP)

Meanwhile, the Congress manifesto released on Wednesday talks about its commitment to work towards the decriminalization of consensual homosexual practices between adults. “The Indian National Congress will enact a law to ensure that consensual sexual relations between adults of the same-sex, are not criminalised,” its manifesto reads. The Congress was the first party to come out against the December SC verdict.

Both parties talk about women’s issues and gender violence in their manifesto and plan to take several steps to curb the same. Earlier, CPI(M) manifesto also promised decriminalisation of homosexuality in India.